Government & Politics – TheMinotVoice.com

Port: North Dakota lawmakers may finally get ballot measure reforms right

by: MinotVoice | January 21, 2025

Reforming North Dakota’s ballot measure process isn’t a headline-grabber, but it should be. House Concurrent Resolution 3003 proposes requiring a 60% supermajority to amend the state constitution—a sensible safeguard for our most consequential laws. Critics argue this undermines direct democracy, but it’s worth considering: should laws be shaped by fleeting majorities or broad consensus? Rob

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Bill would let North Dakota state firefighters retire earlier

by: MinotVoice | January 21, 2025

State firefighters in North Dakota may soon find early retirement within their reach, as lawmakers review a pivotal bill aimed at aligning their benefits with other public safety officials. House Bill 1112 seeks to allow these brave professionals, currently eligible for retirement at 65, to retire up to a decade earlier. It’s a recognition not

Read & Share sourced from: North Dakota Monitor

Following tax spike, property tax relief ideas head before Montana lawmakers

by: MinotVoice | January 21, 2025

Property taxes are front and center at Montana’s Capitol, where surging bills are squeezing homeowners and renters alike. Lawmakers are weighing solutions that could bring relief — but the paths diverge. Governor Gianforte’s proposal targets second homes and high-end properties, aiming to shift the tax burden while rewarding primary residents. Meanwhile, Democrats are pushing for

Read & Share sourced from: Montana Free Press

Sports betting bill brought up again in state legislature

by: MinotVoice | January 20, 2025

North Dakota stands at a crossroads on sports betting. Representative Scott Louser is pushing for a 2026 ballot that could legalize wagering on professional and college sports. While he argues the state misses out on revenue as more than 30 states have already embraced this pastime, critics warn of increased financial risks, like the potential

Read & Share sourced from: KX News

Can the state ignore local regulations? Wyoming Supreme Court will decide.

by: Josh Wolsky | January 20, 2025

In Wyoming, a heated battle between state and local powers may set a precedent for who truly holds sway over state-owned lands. Picture this: Teton County is challenging the state’s claim that counties can’t impose zoning or safety codes on these lands—a stance that critics say creates a dangerous “legal void.” The Wyoming Supreme Court

Read & Share sourced from: WyoFile

How to Make America Great: A Visionary Manifesto from the Woman Who Ran for President in 1872

by: MinotVoice | January 19, 2025

In 1872, long before the 19th Amendment gave women a voice at the ballot box, Victoria Woodhull shook America by running for President, with none other than Frederick Douglass as her running mate. Born into poverty and adversity, Woodhull was a force of nature. Her campaign was bold, her ideas revolutionary, and she challenged societal

Read & Share sourced from: The Marginalian

Counterpoint: The Electoral College Must Be Reformed

By: Rob Richie, Inside Sources | January 19, 2025

For an alternate viewpoint, see “Point: The Electoral College Protects Minority Views and Discourages Fraud.” How we elect our presidents has never been more broken — and that’s saying something for an Electoral College system subject to more proposed constitutional amendments than any other topic. We urgently need popular vote elections that treat every voter equally

Read & Share sourced from: Inside Sources

Point: The Electoral College Protects Minority Views and Discourages Fraud

By: Dan Greenberg, Inside Sources | January 19, 2025

For an alternate viewpoint, see “Counterpoint: The Electoral College Must Be Reformed.” The Framers of the U.S. Constitution designed a unique system to choose our president in 1787: the Electoral College. More than two centuries later, it remains an invaluable institution that helps safeguard us against the tyranny of the majority and vote fraud. Back then,

Read & Share sourced from: Inside Sources

First Raw Milk, Now Butter and Cream, Too? The Legislature Will Answer

by: MinotVoice | January 18, 2025

The debate over raw milk has arrived in the legislature which is already legal for direct sale. Now, lawmakers are considering expanding that to include products like butter and cream. Representative Dawson Holle is championing House Bill 1131, arguing it could energize the local dairy industry by offering consumers more fresh, local options. However, not

Read & Share sourced from: KFYR

Ballot measure resolution a roadblock to democratic process

By: Amy Jacobson, North Dakota Monitor | January 18, 2025

The people of North Dakota deserve better than [House Concurrent Resolution 3003](https://ndlegis.gov/assembly/69-2025/regular/bill-overview/bo3003.html?bill_year=2025&bill_number=3003) — a proposal at the state legislature that would undermine our rights and our civic powers as citizens. This resolution, like last year’s Measure 2, is an attack on our ability to shape our future through citizen-initiated ballot measures. It’s designed to silence us by

Read & Share sourced from: North Dakota Monitor

Making Property Taxes Fair Again: A Reform Plan for North Dakota

by: MinotVoice | January 18, 2025

North Dakota’s property tax system might not be a typical dinner table topic, but its complexity impacts every homeowner. A recent proposal aims to address frustrations with the current system, introducing bold reforms like an 8-year rolling average for assessments and a focus on taxing usable square footage for primary residences. The author argues these

Read & Share sourced from: The Dakotan

Ward County Commission Agenda | January 21, 2025

by: MinotVoice | January 18, 2025

The Ward County Commission will hold its regular meeting on Tuesday, January 21, 2024, at 9:00 AM in the Commission Chambers at the Ward County Administrative Building, located at 315 3rd St SE. The full agenda and packet can be viewed by following the button link below.

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City Council Agenda | January 21, 2025

by: MinotVoice | January 17, 2025

The Minot City Council will hold its regular meeting on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at 5:30 PM in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, located at 10 3rd Ave SW. Residents in need of special accommodations are encouraged to contact the City Clerk’s office at 857-4752. City Council meetings can also be live-streamed from

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Doug Burgum’s federal rise highlights weaknesses in North Dakota ethics rules

by: MinotVoice | January 17, 2025

Doug Burgum, the former governor of North Dakota, is making waves this week as he signs an ethics agreement to divest from oil and gas interests he holds in Western North Dakota. It’s an action he notably avoided during his gubernatorial term, where as Chair of the Industrial Commission, he had regulatory oversight over them.

Read & Share sourced from: North Dakota Monitor

Hoverson’s Blue laws bill overwhelmingly struck down in North Dakota House

by: Josh Wolsky | January 17, 2025

North Dakota lawmakers have decisively dismissed a proposal to reinstate the old Sunday closure law for retail stores. House Bill 1150, introduced by Rep. Jeff Hoverson of Minot’s District 3, aimed to bring back a mandate that banned shopping from midnight to noon on Sundays—a throwback to a rule eliminated in 2019. With an overwhelming

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The ‘GOAT’: Lawmakers unveil plan to update Nebraska regulations, cut red tape

by: MinotVoice | January 17, 2025

Nebraska’s lawmakers are taking a swing at modernizing state regulations with a policy package they’ve dubbed “GOAT”—Government Oversight, Accountability, and Transparency. This multi-step plan aims to trim bureaucratic fat, keeping pace with, and even mirroring, similar national and state efforts. Led by former State Sen. Laura Ebke and a cohort of dedicated officials, these proposed

Read & Share sourced from: Nebraska Examiner